A Reluctant Adventure

I started this blog to write about life, food, fitness and everything else that happens in between. But then, guess what? The in between took over and I got too busy for the blog!
But now life has thrown me a curve ball, a challenge if you will, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll have time for the blog again for a while.
Last Friday I received a phone call that has already and will continue to change my life forever. I got the news that my recently biopsied breast lump was indeed cancer. I really wasn’t ready for that news, of course, who ever is? I’d had a few benign lumps in the past and was hoping this was the case with this one.

Since then I’ve had two mammograms, an ultrasound, a biopsy, an MRI, genetic testing, more blood work, seen a surgeon, an oncologist, scheduled a heart test, a chemo class, a nutritional consultation, and have an appointment to have a “port” installed on my chest. Little more exciting than my average week but not really the kind of excitement you get excited about, if you know what I mean!
So here’s the news guys – I have Stage II Ductal Carcinoma. I start an aggressive round of chemo on October 1st (every 2 weeks for 8 weeks) and then follow that up with another type of chemo weekly for 12 weeks. And then…surgery to remove whatever remains of the lump after it’s been thoroughly doused with life killing chemicals for 20 weeks. I’ll address the reasoning for chemo first in a future post. – I’ve gotten a lot of questions about that.
I want to thank everyone for their support. Every single person I have told has blown me away with their understanding, compassion and willingness to help. Of course, at this point, I have no idea what I’m going to need but it’s such a comfort knowing I have family and friends who are like family who are there for me if I need them. I can’t express how much it means to me and how each of you have touched me heart.
So here I am, just blogging about my journey. I have no idea what to expect, or who I’ll be when I get to look back from the other side of this reluctant adventure, but I’m hoping its someplace good.